Whitsunday dents Razorbacks' hopes

THE Whitsunday Miners backed up last round's win over Bundaberg with a 1-1 draw with the North Queensland Razorbacks at Townsville yesterday.

Although slipping to sixth place on the ladder, the Razorbacks are rated highly in the competition and their previous results against the Miners include a 7-1 victory last year and a 4-1 win earlier this year.

Miners coach Steve McDowall said he was “very pleased with the result” yesterday, especially since the Razorbacks desperately needed a win to keep their finals hopes alive.

“We started reasonably well, with Brett Neeve and Michael Van Moolenbroek combining well down the right hand side to create a few chances,” he said.

Some “excellent saves” from the Razorbacks' goalkeeper denied the Miners a goal until the 23rd minute, when a Van Moolenbroek header found the back of the net.

The Miners kept their 1-0 lead at the half-time break, but the Razorbacks hit back, with Joshua Searle scoring the equaliser just three minutes into the second stanza.

“From there on, it was a real battle,” McDowall said.

The Razorbacks had the majority of possession in the second half and threw plenty at the Miners, but the visitors' stout defence ensured the 1-1 scoreline remained at the full-time siren.

McDowall said he was impressed with how the Miners' defensive line performed and thought the midfielders “really work hard to stifle (North Queensland's) midfield”.

Another positive was the successful QSL debut of Young Miner Joe Civello, who got involved when a hamstring injury forced Neeve out of the game.

“Joe went really well and he was playing on the left hand side where most of the Razorbacks' attacking moves were coming from,” McDowall said.

Meanwhile, McDowall is hopeful Neeve's injury - a recurrence of a previous hamstring complaint - should recover in time for next week; however there is doubt over Dwayne German, who left the field with a groin strain.

The 10th-placed Miners host the Far North Queensland Bulls at Harrup Park on Saturday.